Chapter 22 Ch. 16.2
Zara showed up to practice like she was being forced at gunpoint. She walked across the field slowly, her arms crossed, her hoodie up, and her headphones in even though nothing was playing.
The moment her coach saw her, the woman’s eyes narrowed like she'd just spotted a rat in her kitchen.
"Well, well, nice of you to join us today," Coach Ayers said, blowing into her whistle with that same fake cheer she always used when she was actually annoyed.
Zara pulled her hoodie off and tucked it into her bag. "Yeah, well. I was considering spending the rest of the day in bed instead of coming to a place where I'm clearly not wanted or appreciated."
"What’s with the attitude? You’re damn lucky I didn’t tell your dad you skipped two days of training," her coach said, raising her brows in annoyance.
"Well, I didn’t ask you not to tell him," she said, folding her arms after she dropped her bag in the grass. "You might as well go ahead and do that. I could not care less."
Coach frowned. "What is this sudden attitude about? You’re slacking. Very much so, in fact. You’re not running at your best. You’re not even close to the record you set last year. And now you’re acting out?"
"Is that all?"
"Zara, seriously, what’s going on with you? You’re slacking—badly. You’re not running like you used to. And now you’re mouthing off?"
Zara shrugged. "Maybe I’m just tired of pretending to care when clearly no one else does."
Coach Ayers stepped forward. "No one else? I’m literally here, coaching you. Trying to get you back in shape. You think I enjoy riding your ass all day? You’re acting out, and you’re acting like you don’t care about the team. Reina is—"
"Oh, here we go again," Zara said, interrupting her coach. She rolled her eyes so hard it almost hurt. "Reina this, Reina that. Why should I even be here? You've got your new superstar. Let her carry the team."
Coach Ayers sighed and rubbed her temples. "Zara, this isn’t about Reina. This is about you. You’re letting all this mess get in your head. Just stop."
"Whatever," she muttered, tying her hair into a bun. "Let’s just get this over with. Instead of standing here and arguing with me, maybe let’s get to training? We’re running out of time."
"Zara—"
"Coach, we don’t have time for this argument if we’re trying to train, do we?"
Practice started after that. People stretched, Coach Ayers yelled the usual warm-up commands, and everyone fell into a loose routine.
After a ten-minute break, Coach Ayers clapped her hands. "Alright, three miles. Let’s go in fifteen."
Zara bent down, tightening her shoelaces.
"Seriously, Zara?" Reina’s voice popped up next to her like a mosquito.
Zara looked up. "What?"
"What the hell is your problem?" Reina snapped.
"Excuse me?"
Reina stood with her hands on her hips. "You can’t even be happy for me, can you? Your teammates are getting better, and all you care about is that you’re not number one anymore."
Zara scoffed. "What makes you think I care? Honestly, I’m so happy for you. Beyond happy. Like, I cry tears of joy every time someone compares the two of us and says I suck now."
"You definitely care," Reina said pointedly. "And you're clearly not happy about it."
"No, I literally do not give a shit. What makes you think I care?"
"Zara."
"Like I said Reina, I’m very happy for you. I am so freaking happy for you that it doesn’t suck at all when every single time I walk into practice, everyone is comparing us."
"Zara—"
"Yeah, I get it. State championships. You were fifth, I was first. Now you’re doing better, and somehow that means I’m lazy and not trying. No one even cares if something might be wrong with me or if I’m struggling. They just care that you’re faster now."
Reina folded her arms. "Wow. You really think everything is about you. You act like the world revolves around you. Did it ever cross your mind that when you were the top runner, when everyone looked up to you, I was still pushing myself through the same drills? You don’t get to be mad that I’m improving."
"I’m not mad you’re improving," Zara snapped. "I’m mad that everyone thinks my downfall is part of your glow-up arc. Like I have to lose for you to win. And don’t come at me with this fake-ass concern. I know you’re talking crap behind my back. The group chat stunts? Yeah, I know about that."
Reina scoffed. "Seriously? You’re that paranoid? Zara, get over yourself. Yes, I know I placed fifth last year. Fifth. You were number one. Maybe people are just excited to see someone else rising. That doesn’t mean they’re against you."
"Yeah, tell that to everyone acting like I’ve committed a crime for not running like I used to and just assume I’m being lazy."
"You're not even listening to a fucking thing in saying. Oh my fucking gosh Zara. You are so self-centered. You always act like the world revolves around you. You think I didn’t get crap last year for not being good enough? You think the coach didn’t yell at me every other day while you were being praised?"
"Good for you," Zara snapped. "Now you’re getting your praise and you still find a way to act like you care. Like you’re concerned about me."
"I do care! That’s why this sucks. There’s no fun in winning if you’re just falling apart. There’s no competition, no energy."
Zara laughed dryly. "Oh, save the motivational speech. You want the title? Take it. I’m not dying on that stupid hill."
"Then stop acting like I’m out to get you. I’m not the enemy, Zara."
Zara stepped back and grabbed her water bottle. "Just stop talking to me, Reina. I’m not in the mood to fake-smile my way through this. Don't talk about competition like there aren't enough of them from other schools and in the whole damn state."
Reina opened her mouth like she was going to keep going but then shook her head and walked off.
Zara took a deep breath, then muttered under it, "So much for team spirit."